Gardai believe they prevented an imminent gangland shooting after seizing two sub-machine guns and three handguns in the capital.

Detectives from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) searched a car in the Cabra area of Dublin shortly before 6pm yesterday evening.

During the course of the search they recovered what are believed to be two MP-9 submachine guns and two silencers, three loaded Smith and Wesson handguns and a large quantity of ammunition.

Speaking at a media briefing this evening, Det Supt Tony Howard of the DOCB said: “From the intelligence we have in relation to yesterday’s operation, there is no doubt that somebody else’s life has been saved”.

“These weapons are indiscriminately designed for one thing, and one thing only and that is to kill people,” he added.

The senior garda also said that one line of inquiry being looked at was that these weapons were connected to an organised crime gang linked to the ongoing feud in the capital.

“There is no doubt that we interrupted a serious criminal enterprise by seizing these weapons.

“Certainly these type of weapons could only have come from individuals who are engaged in serious organised crime.

“One of the avenues of inquiry we will be looking at is the connection to the feud that is going on here in Dublin, but it is not the only line of inquiry we will be looking at,” Det Supt Howard said.